A special court has agreed to send a letter of request (LR) to local courts in United Kingdom, through the ministry of external affairs ministries of the countries, to block fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya from accessing 17 of his accounts abroad on Wednesday. The court was hearing CBI's plea that proceeds from the Rs 1,474.27 crore bank fraud are lying in these accounts.

The investigating agency's request for sending an LR for attachment of Mallya's immovable property at UK's Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin and Welwyn areas, has also been allowed.

Once the request reaches the judicial officer, it will be analyzed and Mallya will be given an opportunity to present his side after which an order on the attachment of these properties will be passed.

Special Public Prosecutor Raj Mohan Chand, appearing for the CBI's Bank Securities and Fraud Cell, further sought that a request be sent for these accounts to be investigated by authorities in the UK. The request was allowed.

"After perusal of requisite documents annexed with the chargesheet, it reveals prima facie wrongful gain de posited in the account of Mr Vijay Mallya and his shell companies. Therefore, in order to subserve the interest of justice, it is necessary to issue Letter of Request to appropriate authority," special judge J C Jagdale noted.

The judge further observed the agency's main apprehension is that Mallya may try to transfer the amount into other accounts. "In the light of previous conduct of Mr Vijay Mallya, the said apprehension seems to be genuine one. If the accounts are attached restrained, then it would cause no prejudice to anybody," he further observed.

Vijay Mallya sought loans from IDBI Bank in 2009. Mallya offered his personal guarantee as well as that of of United Breweries (Holding) Limited (UBHL) to IDBI and later to a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India.According to the agreement, Mallya bound himself from selling, disposing or alienating any part of his property or assets without the approval from the banks. However, according to the CBI, the significant part of the loan amount disbursed by various banks was pooled into the account of Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and its other accounts and entities in United Kingdom.

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